2017 D3 Spring Season Thank You

Thank you for your professionalism, respect, and sportsmanship.

I am not perfect, I do not pretend to be. I try to put myself in the best possible location to make the right call. It does not always work out and I have to make a judgement call — I apologize for that and I strive to be quicker to the play.

I hear groans, moans, disapproval, a few snide remarks, but in the end, it is over, you (Spring Friday Night Coed Teams) move on and keep playing.

I want to thank the 2017 Friday night coed teams at Litton field for your professionalism, respect, and sportsmanship this 2017 Spring Season. It means a great deal to me.

I am going to miss the players on the following teams as they will not have a summer team the 2017 season.

Mountain Bounty: Mellon Ballers · WD Painting · Gary's Place · Inglorious Batters

I truly enjoyed everyone. Thank you for putting up with me, and again, THANK YOU FOR HAVING FUN and RESPECTING THE GAME, YOURSELVES, THE OTHER PLAYERS, and MYSELF!

As for Beauties and the Beasts · AJA Video · Bad News Beers I will see you this summer along with teams from Memorial.

If you are happy or unhappy with me as an umpire, please give Steve Loomis an email telling him what you think — it is how I became an umpire for WNCSSA and it lets him know how us umpires are doing — we are here for you!

- Humbly yours - Gerald (Gerry) Davenport

Remember: Lights on for safety.

I have no time for people with no sportsmanship, respect, or consideration.

Some of you may know that I used to umpire Wednesday Nights, along with Friday Nights at Litton field, but there were several occasions that the professionalism and respect was thrown out the window by a certain team on Wednesday. I used to respect the players on that team because of their connection to the league. Now I will not umpire a game that any of the players is on a team. Either men's, coed, or tournament!

There are very few people in this league that I despise, avoid, and have little to no respect. As an umpire you have to have thick skin, selective hearing, and a calming demeanor along with an ability to not hold any grudges of what happened the week or weeks before, such as when I toss someone for bad language, being drunk, or for unsportsmanlike conduct — they always apologize for their actions immediately after or the following week. I keep a record of what what they did, and it is not like they are on probation, BUT…I just wait to see what happens and look for a pattern. Most of the time there is no pattern and all is fine, forgiven, and forgotten.

Some of you may know of whom I speak that have no respect or consideration for the the game, umpires, and other players. And some may not know what happened.

I ask that you let it be. It is not worth your dignity to tell them how you feel. They will never change. Just avoid them.

One Wednesday night the ball hit the mat and I called "strike two." Player A looked back at me. "What? That didn't hit the plate." "Yes it did." "That didn't hit the &#$@ing plate." "Yes, it did, right there. play on."

The player grounded out and as he walked by me heading back to the dugout on the third-base line, he kept yammering on that it didn't hit the $&#*ing plate even in the dugout.

I got tired of it, and yes, I lost my composure and yelled at both teams that "I have had enough of the crap, next person whines about anything is gone!"

Now I got no apology from him after the game, or before the next game, and considering he is married to Player C who used to be on the board, i expected more.

One Monday I umpire a men's night and Player B, who plays on the coed team with Player A and Player C on Wednesday, plays on a men's team. Player B is up to bat and the ball hits the edge of the mat and jets right under the catchers legs. "Strike Two!" I called. Player B looks back at me. "What? That didn't hit the plate. hit right back here. (he points with his bat)" "If it would have just hit the ground it would have bounced right to the catch, but it caught the plate causing it to jet under his legs."

After the inning he comes up the the home plate and begins yapping about it, pointing with a bat. I stayed by the score machine. "I know you can hear me Gerry." "If I turn and acknowledge you I am going to toss you out of the game. I am tired of it. Get you glove and get out in the field." "But I want to disagree..." "If I look over now I am going to toss you out of the league. the play is over. It's my job to watch the ball go where it goes, not yours."

After the game, Player B still wants to yap about the call. "It's over, this is what it is you keep on about it, it is over. Move on."

I happen to get a text from Player C about something, but mentioned to her that I am done with Wednesday's because of her players, like Player B. "Oh that's just Player B, I cannot do anything about that." Really? You were on the board, your are an adult, and you are one of the managers on the team. Really? By not doing anything you are condoning his actions on the team, and therefore believe in what he is doing. I lost all my respect and admiration for Player C, in fact for the entire team.

So, I told the commissioner that I am done with Wednesday nights until something is done about the team and their lack or consideration and respect, not just to me, but to other players and the game. They actually look down their noses at the other teams. Amazing what you can see once the rose-colored glasses are removed.

Some people said I should have tossed them from the game and then they would stop. Yeah. I could have. But when you have/had respect for someone like a close friend, family member, or an officer of sorts, you figure they would act professionally and return the respect, and not put you in that position.

Not only am I angered about it, but I am hurt, betrayed, and felt like I never meant anything to them. The feeling is now mutual. Do not ask me for any favors. I will be pleasant when I see them, but I WILL NOT UMPIRE A GAME THAT ANY OF THE PLAYERS ARE PLAYING IN.